The neat trick about these cookies are that they are frosted before they're baked! Under the frosting hides a plump, red cherry!

Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 (10-ounce) jar maraschino cherries (42 to 48)

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 (6-ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

1. Combine the flour and coca powder. Set aside.
2. Drain the maraschino cherries, reserving juice. Place cherries on paper towels to drain thoroughly. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt; beat until combined. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Stir in flour mixture until just combined.
4. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place on an ungreased cookies sheet. Press your thumb into the center of each ball. Place a cherry in each center.
5. For frosting, in a small saucepan combine chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Cook and stir until chocolate is melted. Stir in 4 teaspoons of the reserved cherry juice.
6. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the frosting over each cherry, spreading to cover cherry. (If necessary, thin frosting with additional cherry juice.)
7. Bake in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 42 to 48 cookies.